Quote: Letter of Ming Dynasty writer Yuan Hong-dao to his friend Li Zi-ran

Have you been writing any poems recently? If you're not writing poetry, how are you getting through these dreary days? A person can only be happy when he finds something to put his heart into. Some people put their hearts into chess, some into beautiful women, some into a particular skill or craft, some into writing.


    --Excerpt, translation by Stephen Owens in his book, An Anthology of Chinese Literature: Beginnings to 1911


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